Article-feeding machine



- o. N. RITCHIE AND H. 0. BoYKiN.

ARTICLE FEEDING MACHINE.

y APPUCATION FILED MAY 9,19'21. 1,421

Patented July 4, 1922.

li. l. il MMEEE E ATTORNEYS OSCAR N. `ItIIllCHIR, OF HAIKILTON, AND HERBERT C. BOYKIN, OF MTDDLETOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO P. LORILLARD COMPANY, 0F.NE.' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ARTICLE-FEEDNG MACHTNE.

Application led May 9, 1921.

T 0 all @017mm t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Oscar N. Rrrorim and Hnnnnn'r C. BOYKIN, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Hamilton and Middletown, respectively, in the county of lButler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Article-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a machine for feeding articles such as bags, envelopes and the like and relates more particularly to a machine for feeding such articles in properly timed relation to associated apparatus for pe forming further operations thereon; and has special reference to the provision of an article feeding machine in which the articles may be hand fed by an unskilled operative, the machine feeding the articles in that timed relation required for the ellicient operation of the associated apparatus.

In the present instance our invention comprehends the provision of a bag or envelope feeding machine adapted for effective cooperation with a opening inachine of the type disclosed in the patent to Henderson and Tietz, No, 1,111,899 of September 29, 19111, used for feeding, opening and filling envelopes or bags with a commodity such as tobacco., At will be understood, however, that y although we have shown our invention adapted for and applied to such bag opening machine. that our feeding; machine is not limited to such use, our invention having broader utility and beI 0' Aadapted for feeding other articles where similar problems are involved. Tn the filling` of tobacco in containers such as hagsthe bags are successively fed to an apparatus of the type disclosed in the said patent to Henderson and Tietz above referred to, which receives, grips and opens the bags to place the same in condition ready for filling, after which the bags are filled with a commodity such as tobacco and sealed. @ne of the dillicultiesin the apparatus used for performing these functions has been in the inability to autom-.aticallv feed the bags to the opening apparatus with the reopiredl accuracy necessary for efficient operation. ln order for the associated opening. filling and sealing apparatus to operate eiiieiently. it is essential that the ban-s be fed to the bag opening machine singly and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, 1922,

Serial No. 467,988.

in timed relation with respect thereto, it being further essential that the bags be fed each time without a miss, failure to deliver a bag to the opening machine at any one time or failure to deliver such bags singly or individually causing the associated apparatus to be thrown out of operation; it being then necessary to correct bag :feeding activity prior to resumption of operation, this necessitating undue time consumption and preventing the greatest quantity production of which the machine is otherwise capable. The bag feeding machine hitherto used has been found to give unsatisfactory service, such machine at times failing to feed and deliver a bag and at other times feeding the bags in multiple instead of singly. Hand feeding of the bags to the machine for opening the same has also been resorted to. This latter procedure necessitates, however. the services of a highly skilled operative who is required to feed the bags periodically without a miss, the cost of operation being` thereby considerably increased. Our invention comprehends the provision of a bag` feeding apparatus to which the bags may be fed by hand by unskilled workmen, the machine being adapted to feed the bags at the required intervals and with the desired accuracy to the associated bag opening apparatus. n i

The principal objects of our invention 'therefore include, besides the provision of an apparatus for feeding articles such as envelopes or bags to associated apparatus, the further provision of an apparatus in which the articles are fed by hand to a conveyer, which delivers the same in timed relation to other means for feeding the articles forward; the provision of such associated conveyor and feeding means cooperating to feed the envelopes or bags in the flat without creasing or marring: the provision of an apparatus in which the bags are periodically fed to a means for impartina` a transverse curl to the articles for facilitating` subsequent opening thereof and the further provision of such an apparatus comprising relatively few parts and in which the parts are arranged in a simple manner to accomplish the desired results.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be dened in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of our invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryV elevational view showing the correlated parts of our apparatus, with parts shown in section, and

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the operative vparts of the apparatus are supported by the structure 10, which-preferably comprises an integral casting. Connected to opposite sides of the support 10 are side plates 11 and 12, the said side plates defining therebetween a channel intended for the reception of articles such as envelopes oi' bags, the said side plates functioning to 'position the bags longitudinally of the channel, as shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings, and to guide the bags in their movement in the said channel, as will appear further hereinafter. The plates 11 and 12 may be connected together at the remote end by being affixed to a transverse block 13, the block maintaining the side plates in properly spaced relation. For the purpose of supporting the articles inserted in the channel, we preferably provide the spaced supporting tracks 14 and 15, the said tracks being fixed in position by being connected at one end to inwardly formed lugs 16 and 17, which may be integral with the casting 10, and by being connected at their opposite ends to the transverse block 13, as by means of screws 13. The articles or bags 19 to be fed are inserted by hand into the channel defined by the side plates 11 and 12, the bag falling on the spaced track supports 14 and 15, the sup I ports defining a predetermined path, which in the present instance is preferably a horizontal path, in which the bags 19 are adapted'to move as they are fed forward by means to be described presently.

For the purpose of feeding the articles or bags forward in properly timed relation, we` have found it desirable to provide a conveyer 2O which preferably takes the form of an endless sprocket chain arranged to move preferably in a vertical plane and having upper and lower flights 21 and 22, the said sprocket chain 20 being trained over opposed sprocket wheels 23 and 24, the sprocket wheel 23 being mounted to rotate on a shaft 25 journalled in opposed bearings 26 and 27 provided by the support 10, and

the sprocket wheel 24 being fixed to a stub shaft 23 iournalled in a. bearing provided by an arm 29, which is ixedly mounted on the transverse Yblock 13. The conveyer or endless chain 2O is provided with a plurality of feeding lugs 30 equally spaced along the length of the chain 20, the said feeding lugs 30 being adapted to engage successive bags inserted into the feed channel and to move such bags forwardly during motion of the conveyer chain, this activity of the feeding lugs taking place during the upper flight stage of the said conveyor, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. To accomplish the desired results the upper iiight 21 of the conveyer is arranged to move in a path parallel to the bag path provided by the track supports 14 and 15, so that the lugs 30 may properly engage a bag and feed the same forward in its path. Accordingly, we prefer to provide a chain support 31 arranged in the space between the track elements 14 and 15, the top surface of the support 31 being arranged below'the track surfai-es 14 and 15 in order to accommodate the height of the chain links, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the said support 31 being fixedly mounted in position as by being connected at one end to the casting 10 and at its other end to the transverse block 13.

The conveyer 2O feeds the successive bags received in the feed channel and is intended to deliver the saine to further feeding apparatus. It has been found desirable to so predetermine the activity of the conveyer 20 and to so arrange the parts that the activity of the conveyer 2O should not interfere with the operation of the other feeding elements and so that the cooperative feeding means be so related as to feed the bags without creasing, marring or otherwise injuring the said bags, it being desired that the bags be fed forward in perfectly flat formation. To this end-it has been found desirable to arrange the sprocket 23 on a horizontal level below the sprocket 24 to provide for the deflecting or dipping of that portion of the upper flight 21fbetween the sprocket 23 and the support 3l. ,This arrangement permits the disappearing or dropping of the feeding lugs 30 out of the way or below the path of movement of the bags 19 immediately the subsequent feeding apparatus, to be described presently, receives such bag to feed the same forward.

The individual bags conveyed forward by the conveyer 2O are adapted to be gripped by other feeding elements, as hereinabove referred to, to feed the bag forward towards the associated apparatus. To this end we provide the spaced gripping rolls 32 and 33 mounted on a shaft 34, the said gripping rolls 32 and 33 being preferably lined with va rubber facing to permit yieldable frictional gripping engagement with the bags 19, rolls 35 mounted on a shaft 36 arranged in vertical alineinent and below the shaft 34 being also provided for cooperation with the spaced gripping rolls 32 and 33 to grip therebetween a bagY 19 fed forward thereto, the plane of gripping contact between the rolls 32. 33 and 35 being preferably arranged in the plane of the bag vpath provided `by the spaced tracks 14 and 15. 1t will be seen by reference to yFigaire 1 of the drawings that immediately the forward edge of bag 19 is grippingly received by the rolls 32 and 33,that the feedinglug 30 which has gear wheel 39 meshing with an idler pinion '40, which in turn meshes with the pinion 41 mounted on the roller shaft 36, a pinion 42 on roller shaft 34 being, in turn, preferd ably provided for meshing with the pinion 41. By these means the conveyer 2O and the gripping rolls 32, 33 and 35 are operated to move in properly timed relation, the arrangement being preferably such that the gripping rolls move a bag 19 with a speed greater than the feeding speed of lugs 30, this arrangement being provided to further prevent operative interference between the conveyer elements and the gripper rolls to the end that each bag may be fed forward in a perfectly Vflat state without being creased, marred or otherwise injured.

Before delivering the fed bags to the opening apparatus hereinbefore referred to, it has been found desirable tov eect a transverse curl or bend running longitudinally of each bag, this being desired to Jfacilitate the subsequent bag opening operation. The bags, when delivered 'to `the opening machine, are received by a holder or a pan, means being provided, suoli as a spoon, adapted to be inserted between the sides of the bag at the open end thereof for the opening of the bag to place theA same in condition ready for filling, such means being particularlv disclosed in the patent to Henderson and Tietz, hereinabove referred to. It is desired, in order to facilitate the opening of the bags by the spoon, to produce or effect a transverse bend or curl in each bag as it is fed from the feeding machine to the opening machine. To this end we provide a drum 43 `iournalled in bearings provided in vertical plates 44 and 44', the said drum 43 being provided with a centrally recessed. portion 45. Cooperating with the drum 43 and more particularly with the recessed portion 45 thereof, we preferably provide a roller 46 having a width substantially equal to the width of the recessed portion 45, the said roller being fixed to a shaft 47 provided with journals 48 vertically movable in recesses 49 formed in the upstanding plates 44 and 44. The roller 46 and its shaft 47 are adapted to yieldingly float with respect to the drum 43 and to this end we preferably provide spring plungers 50 cooperating with the journals 48 and movable in the recesses 49, housings 51 being provided to protect the spring plunger elements. A1t will be apparent that the cooperation between the roller 46 and the drum 43 is such that when a bag 19 is received between these elements, that the bag will receive a transverse curl longitudinally throughout the bag, the bag being thus contoured to permit the spoon in the opening machine to enter the same with facility for the opening thereof. For the purpose of driving the drum 43 and roller 46 we preferably provide an idler 52 meshing with a pinion 53 which is mounted on the shaft 36, idler 52 in turn meshing with a pinion 54 fixed to anouter end oif shaft 55, on which the drum 43 is fixed. Roller 46 is preferably positively driven and to this end we may provide the roller shaft 4T with a pinion 56 meshing with the pinion 54.

The operation of our feeding apparatus will, in the main, be apparent from the above uescription thereof. rlhe bags 19 are fed individually by hand to thefeed channel between the plates 11 and 12, unskilled help being employed for this purpose, the said bags being conveyed forward on `the supporting tracks 14 and 15 by being engaged by the spaced feeding lugs 30 on the conveyer chain 20, the side plates 11 and 12 guiding the movement of the bags in the predetermined horizontal path provided by the track elements 14 and 15. The bags are individually and successively fed forward to be engaged by the gripping rolls 32 and 33, the upper flight 21 of the cenveyer 2O and a feeding lug 30 thereof being arranged to be deflected out of the bag feeding path immediately the gripping rolls receive'such fed bas. rfhe feeding parts are so arranged and are driven at such relative speeds to effect the desired timed feeding of thebags without interference of the respective feed elements and without subjecting the bags to beingl marred, creased or otherwise injured, the bags being fed forward in perfectly flat formation. Each bag as it is received by the gripping rolls 32, 33 and 35, is fed forward to the cooperating drum 43 and roller 45, which manipulate the bags to produce a transverse curl running longitudinally of each bag. rfhe bags, after leaving the drum 43 `and roller 46, fall on a guide or chute (not shown) which conducts the bags to the bag Vholder or pan of the opening machine hereinabove referred to, the bag being then opened and filled with its commodity.

It will therefore be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided a feeding machine which takes the place of a highly skilled operative in feeding the bags or other articles to a bag opening machine, our apparatus functioning to feed the bags periodically and in properly timed relation with respect to the associated bag opening apparatus, unskilled hand labor being utilized for depositing the bags in oui` feeding machine, We have found that by the provision of such a feeding machine that-the bags will be fed in timed relation without a mishap and without the feeding of multiple bags to the opening apparatus, these having been the disadvantages in prior machines.

Although we have shown our device in the preferred form, it will `be obvious that many changes and modifications may be madein the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following` claims.4

7e claim.:

l. In a machine for feeding articles, an endless conveyer provided with a plurality of spaced article engaging elements, feed wheels over which the conveyer is trained, movement of the conveyer being operative to feed the articles in a predetermined path, provisions arranged for receiving the articles from the conveyer to feed the saine forward and means for first moving the conveyer in a direction to feed thef articles in the said path and for then moving tlieconveyer in a given direction at an angle thereto to cause the conveyer and the article engaging elements thereon to drop or move below the said predetermined path before rounding a feed wheel, the change in the direction of movement taking place in a region spaced a prearranged distance from the said provisions.

2. In a machine for feeding articles, spaced supports, a conveyer movable between said spaced supports provided with a plurality of spaced article engaging elements, movement of the conveyer being operative to feed the articles in a predetermined path provided by said spaced supports, provisions arranged for receiving the articles from the conveyer to feed the saine forward and means for first moving the conveyer in a direction to feed the articles in the said path and for then moving the conveyer linearly in a giveny direction at an angle thereto to cause the conveyer and the article engaging elements thereon to move out of the said predetermined path, the change in the direction of movement taking place in a region spaced a prearranged distance from the said provisions.

3. In a machine for feeding articles, spaced supports, an endless chain conveyer provided with a plurality of article engaging elements, the upper flight of the said conveyer comprising two portions, one iiight portion arranged to move between lthe spaced supports and being operative to feedV the articles in a predetermined path provided by the said supports, the other iiight portion being arranged to dip or move below the said path and gripper rolls for receiving the articles from the conveyer adapted to feed the same forward, the plane of engagement between thegripper rolls and an article -received thereby lying substantially in said predetermined path.

et. In a machine'for feeding articles, an endless sprocket chain conveyer, spaced feed sprockets over which the conveyer is trained, one feed sprocket being arrangedon a horizontal level below the other,rmeans for causing a predetermined portion ofthe upper chain flight to move in a predetermined horizontal path, movement of the chain conveyer in said path being adapted to feed articles in such path, the remaining portion of the upper flight being arranged to move below the said path anc provisions for receiving the articles from the conveyer for feeding the same forward.

5. In a machine for feeding articles, spaced article guiding supports, an endless sprocket chain conveyer, spaced feed sprockets over which the conveyer is trained, one

feed sprocket being arranged on a horizontal level below the other, means for causing a predetermined portion of the upper chain flight to move in a predetermined horizontal path between said spaced sup orts, movement of the chain conveyer in saic path being adapted to feed articles in such path, the remaining portion of the upper flight being arranged to move below the said path and provisions for receiving the articlesl from 4the conveyer for feeding the same forward.

6. In a machine for feeding articles such as bags, a conveyer provided with a plurality of spaced bag engaging elements, movement of the conveyer being operative to feed the bags in a predetermined path, provisions arranged for receiving thebags from the conveyer to feed the saine forward, the conveyer and the bag engaging elements thereon being arranged to move out of the said predetermined path in a region spaced a prearranged distance from the said provisions and means for receiving the bags from the provisions and operative on the bags to curl the same transversely.

7. In a machine for feeding articles, a conveyer provided with a plurality of spaced article engaging elements, movement of the conveyer being operative to feed the articles in a predetermined path, provisions arranged for receiving the articles from the conveyer to feed theV same forward, the conveyerk and the article engaging elements thereon being arranged to move out of the llO said predetermined path in a region spaced a prearranged distance from the said provisions and means for actuating the conveyer and the provisions with the provisions adapted to feed an article at a speed greater than that ef the conveyer.

8. In a machine for feeding articles, a conveyer provided with a plurality of spaced article engaging elements, movement of the conveyer being operative to feed the articles in a predetermined path, provisions arranged for receiving the articles from the conveyer to feed the same forward, the conveyer and the article engaging elements thereon being arranged to move out of the said predetermined path substantially when the forward portion of an article is received by the said provisions and means for actu* ating the conveyer and the provisions with the provisions adapted to feed an article at a speed greater than that of the conveyer.

9. In a machine for feeding articles, spaced supports, an endless conveyer provided with a plurality of article engaging elements, the upper flight of the conveyer comprising two portions, one arranged to move between the spaced supports and operative to feed the articles in a predetermined path provided by the said supports and the other flight portion being arranged to move or dip below the said path an-:l feeding means for receiving the articles from the conveyer adapted to feed the same forward, the plane of engagement between the feeding means and an article received thereby lying substantially in said predetermined path.

l0. In a machine for feeding articles, an endless article conveyer, spaced feed wheels over which the conveyer is trained, one feed wheel being arranged on a horizontal level below the other, means for causing a predetermined portion of the upper conveyer Hight to move in a predetermined path, movement of the said conveyer in said path being adapted to feed the article in such path, the remaining portion of the upper flight of the conveyer being arranged to dip or move below the said path and provisions for receiving the articles from the conveyer for feeding the same forward.

Signed at Middletown in the county of Butler and State of Chio this 3rd day of May A. D. 1921.

OSCAR N. RITCHIE. H. C. BOYKIN. 

